Children's Home run by Lincolnshire County Council in Lincolnshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC042967 1 SC042967 Registered provider: Lincolnshire County Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to seven children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children continue to make good progress at this home. They improve their school attendance, they start to build or repair relationships, they become more confident and they settle in. Children like the staff and say that they can talk to them about any worries. Staff at the home make sure that children have positive contact with people who are important to them. This is given a high priority; for example, in order to facilitate a family visit over Christmas, the manager visited the child on Christmas Day to check that everything was going smoothly. Staff also encourage children to engage in activities that they enjoy. These include horse riding and going to the gym.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Where possible, admissions to and discharges from the home are planned. The manager assesses whether the home is able to meet the child’s needs prior to making a decision about a placement. If the home is no longer meeting a child’s needs, staff work with the local authority to effect a planned discharge so that it is not a negative experience for the child. Inspection report children’s home: SC042967 2 Children feel safe in this home. Children’s risk-taking behaviour has decreased since the last inspection. They are not going missing from the home with the same level of frequency and they are therefore much safer. Children are receiving support from the child and adolescent mental health services to address their emotional well-being. In addition, incidents of self-harm have also decreased in number.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Partnership working is good. A parent commented, ‘Staff keep me updated and we are all working together.’ One education provider commented, ‘Staff are supportive’, while another said, ‘Communication is very good.’ Similarly, there are good relationships with health professionals, children’s social care services and the police. This is enhanced through regular multi-agency meetings to consider all the children at the home and how their needs can be met by all partners.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has gone through a period of significant change over the last 18 months. There has been a change of registered manager and a number of staff members have left and been replaced by new staff. The manager has good systems for monitoring the home, including the impact of these changes. Her current priority is to ensure that the new staff work consistently and that they are appropriately trained and supported. She has also improved consultation with children. Children said that they feel listened to and that their views are important. This includes them being fully involved in the planned refurbishment of the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Three requirements and three recommendations were set at the last full inspection. One requirement and one recommendation related to the premises. The standard of cleanliness has now improved and the building is about to undergo a major refurbishment, so it is considered that these have been met. Children now feel more consulted and there is a better system for monitoring return home interviews, so these two recommendations have also been met. The manager has submitted the review of the quality of care, so this requirement has been met. One requirement has not been met in full. Staff have not had regular supervision, although they have all had an annual appraisal. This requirement is therefore repeated.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/07/2018 Full Good 31/01/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/01/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 26/09/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC042967 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33(4)(b)(c)) 31/05/2019

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the children’s home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. Inspection report children’s home: SC042967 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Lincolnshire County Council, County Offices, Newland, Lincoln LN1 1YL

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Inspector

Ros Chapman, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC042967 5 achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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